E42: Vertical Progression Is Gaming's Sex & Finally A Web3 Hope
Send us a textForget the endless autopsies on why Web3 gaming flatlined, @Chris gets past the clichés and gets into the real pathology: a misdiagnosis of what “play-to-earn” was ever good for. @Eric & @Phil on vertical progression is the most important retention driver for several specific reasonsThe “market for lemons” problem in developer <> publisher relations: why developers can banbooze publishersSub to Eric and Chris' Substack here:https://substack.com/@ericguanhttps://substack.com/@chriseconomics00:00 Introduction and Free Trials in Drug Dealing00:28 Economics of Drug Dealing02:11 Personal Experiences and Data Collection03:24 Car Dealerships and Market Monopolies04:57 Gaming Industry Insights: Clash Royale19:08 Battlefield 6: Gameplay and Strategy27:11 Rollerblading Adventures28:36 Rollerblading Economics30:16 Web3 Gaming Struggles34:54 Understanding Play-to-Earn Mechanics43:42 The Market for Lemons52:24 Conflicting Data on Gen Z Spending56:51 The Importance of Reliable Economic Data01:05:43 Conclusion and Future Topics
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E41: Karl Marx as a 5* Character & Ukrainian Drone Economy Design
Send us a textEric covers the economy and the system’s design of Ukraine’s Drone squadron. What does economy balancing look like in the face of war? Phil can’t stop gushing about Heroes of History, but there's one economy design piece holding it up. The crew descends into a John Maynard Keynes debate as a 4* or 5* character. Chris covers the economic impact of the UK’s new obligation for internet providers, potentially transforming UGC as we know it.https://ericguan.substack.com/p/ukraine-gamified-drone-warfare
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E40: The Best Web3 Arguments (w/Yat Siu, Cofounder of Animoca Brands)
Send us a textYat Siu, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, steps cast to defend Web3 against @Eric and @Phil’s vigorous skepticism. @Chris just want to know why gamers don’t get it. Is Web2 fundamentally incapable of grasping the promise of open markets? What is and should be promised to token holders? We discuss:Laying down Web3’s steelman caseWhy the West still doesn't get Web3 like the EastExamining the original token sin, where did it all go wrong?Do digital property rights actually hold back economic growth?
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E39: Law & Economic Order, A Game Economist Investigation
Send us a textPokémon's patent of spherical objects throwing of cartoon creatures threatens Palword's lifeblood, while Tim Sweeney has lifted, at least a percentage point, in total gaming GDP with its injunction success.How does Apple's rent-seeking rate change in the face of this ruling? Should Apple lower its rate to 15%, like it did in subscriptions? Remember, it faced competition primarily from "webstores" too. We premier a new segment: SOLVE that for EQUILIBRIUM.We discuss the marginal *monetization* effects and debate the benefits of personalization opportunities (hint: there are none) with webstores.@Chris is intrigued by Joost's piece on rising game costs, while AI's effects on the industry are measured in the Solow model. @Phil insists rising game costs mean rising revenue and stable margins, while Eric has his own doubts.Eric's on IP Laws: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161276950Joost's On Gaming Costs: https://superjoost.substack.com/p/gamings-billion-dollar-gamble
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E38: Economics of Game Innovation & AI's Now Proof
Send us a textWhat is the GDP-maximizing set of copyright protections? 10 years? 5 years? None at all? Chris, Eric, and I debate the relevance of patents and copyright protections and the gains to network effects of knowledge. Does the "gentlemen's agreement" to avoid patent protections on game design help or hurt the industry? Chris talks about Monster Hunter's lineage and woeful service, while Eric introduces a novel use of AI in game design. Phil believes the Gini coefficient is underutilized for measuring live-ops-driven revenue.
What does the new wave of open economies mean for monetization? Will negative externalities overcome cosmetics economies in the long run? What exactly does a game economist do? Game Economist Cast is a roundtable discussion of the latest developments in mobile, HD, and crypto games through a bunch of people figuring it out using the economic tool kit.
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